The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002

The placing of certain signs to indicate the beginning of a restriction, requirement, prohibition or speed limit

8.—(1) This direction applies to the signs shown in diagrams 616, 617, 618, 618.1, 618.2, 618.3, 618.3A, 619, 619.1, 619.2, 620, 620.1, 622.1A, 622.4, 622.5, 622.6, 622.7, 622.8, 622.9, 625.1, 626.2A, 627.1, 629, 629A, 629.1, 629.2, 629.2A, 632, 642, 646, 663, 663.1, 665, 667, 667.1, 668, 668.1, 670, 672, 674, 951, 952, 953, 953.1, 955, 956 and 957.

(2) In accordance with the following provisions of this direction and the provisions of direction 9, appropriate signs to which this direction applies shall be placed to indicate the point at which a restriction, requirement, prohibition or speed limit applying to traffic on a road (in this direction and in direction 9 called “the relevant road”) begins.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) and to direction 9, a sign to which this direction applies shall be placed on the relevant road at or as near as practicable to the point referred to in paragraph (2)—

(a) where the relevant road has only one carriageway, on each side of that carriageway; or

(b) where the relevant road has more than one carriageway, on each side of each carriageway in relation to which the restriction, requirement, prohibition or speed limit begins.

(4) Where the relevant road has one carriageway, then signs to which this direction applies need only be placed on one side of the relevant road to indicate the point at which a restriction, requirement, prohibition (but not a speed limit) begins in the following cases—

(a) where the restriction, requirement or prohibition applies only to traffic on one side of the relevant road; or

(b) at a junction where—

(i) traffic proceeding on another road on which it is permitted to proceed only in one direction turns into the relevant road; or

(ii) the carriageway of the relevant road is less than 5 metres wide and the sign is so placed that its centre is within 2 metres of the edge of the carriageway.

(5) Where a length of road which passes under or through a bridge, tunnel or other structure is subject to a prohibition on vehicles exceeding a particular height, the sign shown in diagram 629.2 or 629.2A may be placed on the bridge, tunnel or other structure to indicate the prohibition in addition to or instead of the signs required to be placed by paragraph (3).

(6) Paragraphs (3) and (4) shall not apply to the signs shown in diagrams 667, 667.1, 668 and 668.1 which shall be placed on the side of the carriageway on which parking on a verge or footway is permitted and as near as is practicable to the point at which the length of the verge or footway concerned begins.